Flying-machine construction



Juiy s, 1924. 15%,44

c, DORNIER 4 FLYING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Filed June '28 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inveento r:

July 8, 1924.; 1,500,444

C. DORNIER FLYING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Filed June' 28 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA Inwnto r:

Patented July 8, 1924.

1,500,444 PATENT OFFlfiE.

CLAUDIUS DORNIER, OF FRIEDRIGHSHAFEN, GERMANY.

FLYING-MACHINE CONSTRUCTION Application filed June 28, 1920. Serial No. 392,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDIUs DoRNInR, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Friedrichshafen, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F1 ing-Machine Constructions, of which the fo lowing is a specification.

My invention refers to flying machines and more especially to the connection between the body or frame on the one hand and the supporting surface and the landing wheels or floats on the other hand.

It is an object of my invention to simplify this connection and to secure a favorman able transmission of forces from the supporting surface and the carriage or the floats, as the case may be, to the body, and vice versa, avoiding at the same time the drawbacks connected with the usual staylng and bracing of the supporting surface as well as of the carriage or floats per se and relatively to the body, respectively.

With these objects and purposes in view, my invention substantially consists in a novel kind of connection between the body and the carrying and supporting parts (surface, carria e, floats and the like) fixed thereto. This connection is efiected substan-.

tiall by hollow tubular joists, preferably of s eet metal, which are fastened to the body as self-supporting members integral therewith and serve at the same time for the inner bracing of the supporting surface or the float respectively, and, in the case where the carriage is concerned, directly serve as a rigid carriage.- In the case of the supportin surface all staying wires or the like usualy arranged between such joists can be dispensed with altogether. Moreover the hollow self-supporting joists will offer passage and shelter for all kinds of steering gear and pipes and thus materially reduce the air resistance and secure an absolutely free range of vision and fire. As far as the carriage is concerned, the so-called false axle as well as the usual stay wires and other braces between the single parts of the carriage are done away with. The room gained in consequence thereof can be utilized for effecting a thorough connection between the joists and the body.

In the drawings affixed to this specification the preferred forms of an aeroplane provided with a wheel carriage and a hydroplane with a pair of floats are illustrated in a diagrammatic manner. In the drawings Figs. 1 to 3 represent the aeroplane and Figs. 4 and 5 the hydroplane,

Fig. 1 being a front elevation and Fig. 2 a side elevation, part of the body being broken away, while Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modification.

Fig. 4 is. a front elevation and Fig. 5 a side elevation, partly in section,

of the hydroplane. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawlngs, a is a body, 6 are the upper forward and b are the upper rear joists and c is the supporting surface fixed thereto. The joists and b are hollow self-supporting sheet metal tubes of approximately the shape of truncated cones and a cross-sectionoifering the least possible resistance to the air. Near the body, and to a certain extent also near the supporting surface these conical joists are dilated so as to form funnels ofi'ering large surfaces specially adapted to be connected with the body surface by screwing, riveting) or welding. Pipes for cooling water, enzene or oil, steering rods, cables and the like may be arranged inside said joists.

d. are the lower front and d an the lower rear joists forming the carriage, said joists being formed substantially alike to the upper joists b, b and fixed to the body in about the same manner.- They extend in an oblique direction to both sides of the body, and the lower ends of each pair of joists 03 d are united to form a rest for the axle e carrying the wheels 7, rubber ties g or the like serving to keep the axle in position. I

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 each pair of joists 6 ,6 and d ,d respectively,

is eplaced by a single joist b and d of.

correspondingly larger fin-like section which owing to the greater flanges available for fixation ofl'er still greater advantages with regard to strength and transmission of forces, the free space available within .5 has a pair of floats 2' fixed to the ends of the lower joists d (2,. In order to avoid a large exterior joint offering additional resistance to the air and in order to prevent the floats from turning relatively to the body the free ends of the joists are made to extend into the floats so as to form part of the inner frame-work 70 serving to stifi'en them. The floats are moreover connected with each other by three horizontal bars Z evenly distributed over their whole length. In the case where it is desired to render the floats easily replaceable, the ends of the lower joists may as well be fixed to the floats, from outside, there being no danger of the floats turning relatively to the body as long as the floats are connected with each other such as by the bars Z.

I claim I. In an aeroplane in combination, a body, self-supportin hollow joists with funn l shaped bases fixed to said body, and starting gear attached to the lower ends of said joists.

2. In an aeroplane in combination, a body, self-supporting hollow joists approximately ;haped like truncated cones with funnel shaped bases fixed to said body, and starting gear attached to the lower ends ofsaid shaped bases fixed to said body, and starting gear attached to the lower ends of said joists. v

4. In an aeroplane in combination, a body, self-supporting hollow joists with funnel shaped bases fixed to the lower side of said body, and floats fixed to the lower ends of said joists.

5. In an aeroplane in combination, a body, self-supporting hollow joists with funnel shaped bases fixed to the lower side of said body, and floats fixed to the lower ends of said joists, said ends extending into the interior of said floats so as to form part of the bracing structure.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLAUDIUS DORNIER. 

